Raw Rhubarb - Fit Food and Recipes: vegan

Becoming a vegan is more than just about what you eat. It’s a lifestyle change and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. While there are so many health benefits for changing your diet to a vegan one, it can be difficult if you are the only one doing it. Which is why it can be a great motivator to get the whole family involved. Not only will everyone become healthy but it will make the cooking much easier as you are accommodating for everyone. So if you are considering becoming a vegan and want the family involved here are a few suggestions that may help. I made the switch just before Christmas (for compassion to animals and the planet reasons, if you're asking) and haven't looked back.

Image source - pixabay - cco license

Get them excited about the lifestyle change

It is no good not making this new phase in your life exciting. If the children think it’s going to be hard, bland and boring, then they won’t be on board. Explain about how good food can help them in school and with their energy. It would be best if you and your partner showed encouraging signs about how great things will be. Although you want them to be motivated and happy about it, try and not make it into such a huge deal. It needs to be something that everyone is content in and not forced.

Keep them informed

Keeping your family informed about the reasons is a great way to keep everyone on track. You may be wanting to have a vegan lifestyle because of your beliefs in the cruelty of animals. You may find that a plant based diet is exactly what you need because of the health benefits. Whatever your reasons may be, keep your family involved and remind them. Just as much as you will need to remind yourself as time goes on and you get further along in your journey. Things won't happen overnight.

Start things off gradually

The problem with lifestyle and diet changes is that we can try and do too much too soon. If you had a meat eating family before your decision, it would be very difficult to become completely vegan straight away. So accept that this will be a gradual process and cut things out on a weekly basis. Start compensating for foods with other things and adding more vegetables to your meals. This is a great way to get people to try foods they haven’t ever tasted before, without feeling like they haven't got anything to eat at all.

Research out alternative foods for the things they like

If you have a family who likes certain foods, then do a little research and find vegan alternatives. You will be surprised that you can find alternatives to pretty much anything these days. Including things like mayonnaise and sauces. Doing this means that it won’t feel like your family is sacrificing some of their well-loved foods or sauces. You have just found amazing alternatives for them to enjoy. Also, it is worth remembering that there are other things you can try that you may want to use yourself, perhaps remedies you have grown accustomed to where you are looking for vegan edibles as an alternative. Doing research online can help you find these things and not only make the transition easy for you, but also for the family as well.

Finally, don’t forget that you can find many recipes online for old family favourites. Try these mango, avocado and apple summer rolls, this beautiful babaganoush, this lovely beetroot and orange soup or these Thug Kitchen buffalo cauliflower bites.Things like vegan bolognese and pasta will all be a huge hit with the family. Good luck with the lifestyle change.

Follow me on Instagram for more vegan recipes and inspiration!

Lots of love,

Jenna

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Breakfast is the best meal of the day. It's the most satisfying as you are literally breaking your fast. Everyone should wake up to something meaty in the morning.

Cereal and milk is so lame!

So many people skip breakfast and there are fair enough reasons (only joking its pure laziness) but the reason it's the most important meal as it sets you up for the day. Those who eat breakfast (especially protein) consume less calories throughout the day than those who skip it. Breakfast like a King, lunch like a Queen, dinner like a pauper!

Protein comes in many forms other than meat so no sweat if you're a veggie or simply don't fancy it in the morning. You can combine the following vegetable proteins to make a complete protein
Check this out, by containing foods from two or more than the columns you are creating a complete protein:

Grains	Legumes	Nuts/Seeds
Barley	Beans	Sesame seeds
Bulgur	Lentils	Sunflower seeds
Cornmeal	Dried peas	Walnuts
Oats	Peanuts	Cashews
Buckwheat	Chickpeas	Pumpkin seeds
Rice	Soy products	Other nuts

However quinoa is a complete protein on its own! Click here to see my post on quinoa pops, a delightful version of coco pops/rice crispies

Badboy Breakfasts:

Fish

Kippers in Pitta Bread (gluten-free optional)

Grab yourself some of those boil in the bag kippers. They are super cheap. gluten free pitta breads, some leaves (watercress, rocket or spinach) and a lemon. Bang the kippers in a pan to boil and toast the pitta bread. Be careful with the toasted pittas as they can be hotter than the sun inside. Slice them open down one side, and when the kippers are done (about 5 mins) get a kipper inside, whole. Stuff loads of the leaves into the bread too and then squeeze the lemon all over it and some black pepper.

This might stink your kitchen out for a bit. If you can't deal with intense fish first thing in the morning, maybe have it for brunch. Don't forget to floss.

Mackerel on Toast

Smoked mackerel is the best for this. One of my all time favourites, for any time of the day, is toast covered in hot horseradish sauce, then sliced cooked beetroot, watercress, spinach or rocket (or all three) and then smoked mackerel, a squeeze of fresh lemon and some black pepper. Fit. Please try it!

Meat

Bacon with Baked Mushrooms and Tomatoes

On the vine cherry tomatoes are the best. Medium-size closed cup chestnunt mushrooms. Put them in an oven tray and drizzle with rapeseed or olive oil, salt and pepper. I use rapeseed for cooking as it has a higher smoking point, meaning it is better for you. See my ingredients post for more info. Put the oven on about 180 and cut the fat off the bacon. Grill the bacon (as much as you want) while the veg is roasting. You can add some quartered red onions and garlic too if you want. Toast is optional :)

Vegetarian

Perfect Poached Egg

Boil the kettle. Fill a pan with the boiled water and put it on a low heat. You don't want it to go boil crazy, just keep it hot. Stir the water round and round with a spoon and then crack the egg into the whirlpool. Bang a lid on straight away. It will be done by the time your toast is done.

Vegan

Frozen Berries with Yoghurt and Oats

Get the berries out of the freezer and put a big handful in a bowl to give them a chance to start defrosting while you get the rest ready. Add some muesli (the food doctor do a tasty range - expensive though) Waitrose has a massive range of good muesli (ones where sugar isn't the second fucking ingredient!) or just make your own. My brother and his wife make their own and it's wicked. They add pumpkin seeds, dried apricots, and whatever other goodies they want to (dates, figs, seeds, dried fruit, nuts). Then add a big dollup of yoghurt. I have soya yoghurt (which makes it vegan) but you can of course use whatever yoghurt you want and give it a stir.

Then top with chopped, mixed nuts and a spoonful of honey. You might wanna let it sit for a few minutes so the berries aren't completely frozen. The berries are so cool as they defrost and mix with the yoghurt they dye the whole thing purple which leads me onto...

Purple Porridge

This is so good in the winter before work! It sorts you out! Don't eat it in bed though or you will never get up! Put a cupful of wholegrain oats into a pan. cover it with half water and half soya milk and put it on a medium heat. Add a handful of frozen berries. Stir it up. You may need to add more milk or water if it gets too dry and the berries havent defrosted yet but they should be cool. Its normally only the blackberries (if they are big boys) that take the longest. Add some cinnamon and nutmeg and some chopped mixed nuts. Finish with whatever else you want to add, maybe some chopped apple or pear? and a spoonfull of honey. Nice

July 29, 2012 1 comments

Warm Ratatouille Salad with Feta, Balsamic and Halloumi

-An easy and cheap vegetarian recipe which a ratatouille feel and a balsamic kick.

A quick, easy paleo tabbouleh recipe using quinoa with nutritional information about the ingredients and a suggestion for meat eaters.

This is fun! it's purple and green :) 100% plant based, cheap, cheerful, easy peasy lemon squeezy and DELICIOUS. Only 6 ingredients: Lemon, Courgette, Beetroot, Red Lentils, Garlic and Sesame oil and Seeds (ok, 7) and parsley (Fine, 8! but it's worth it!)

Mexican Chocolate Mousse

Raw Coleslaw With Carrots, Apple, Red Cabbage, Lemon Juice, Chilli and Natural Yoghurt.

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